Black Middens

A visit to Tarset wouldn’t be complete without seeing Black Middens; a ruined fortified farmhouse known as a bastle. It was attacked in 1583 by the notorious Armstrong family, well-known Border Reivers. For more information click here.

Getting there

By car

Tarset is five miles north-west of Bellingham in the Upper North Tyne, Northumberland, England. The closest primary road is the A68.

Drivers and cyclists can reach the Tarset Valley from:

the Bellingham to Kielder Road at Lanehead in the south of the valley

from the A68 in the north west, either:

using the B6320 (Bellingham to Otterburn), following signs for Bellingham and then Greenhaugh

using the single track road via Highgreen, signposted towards the Comb.